Railway-tie and fastener.



J. T. CLARK.

RAILWAY TIE AND FASTENEE.

APPLICATION FILED Anm, 1911.

Patented Dec. 5, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

J. T. CLARK.

RAILWAY TIB -AND FASTENER. APPLIoATIoN FILED APRA, 1911.

1,010,587. Patented Dec; 5, V1911.

z SHEETS-SHEET z'.

JOI-IN T. CLARK, OF PROVO, UTAH.

RAILWAY-TIE AND FASTENER.

inrets?.

Specification of Letters Patent.

rammed-nec. 5,1911.

Application led April 1, 1911. Serial No. 618,434.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, JOHN T. CLARK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Provo city, in the county of Utah and State of Utah, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Ties and Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

The purpose of my invention is to provide a railway tie, and a fastenerto secure the rails thereon, which will have the sustaining surfacenecessary for the rails, and one having the central portion so formed asto prevent lateral movement of the tie.

A further object is to provide such a tie and fastener therefor as willprevent lateral and longitudinal displacement of the rails, and anytendency to bend at the joint of the rails, and also to provide aperfectly insulated rail for use in the block signal system.

A further object is to provide a railway tie and fastener on, and bywhich the rails may be secured and removed within less time than now isrequired.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the followingspecifications and drawings, forming a part hereof.

In said drawings similar figures of reference indicate like partsthroughout the several figures.

Figure l is a side elevation of one end of the tie, with the rail andparts of the insulation in section. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinalsection of one end of the tie and fastener, on line a a; Fig. 4. Fig. 3is a plan of one end of the tie and a central portion of a rail thereon.Fig. 4 is a plan of one end of the tie, with a portion of two rails atthe joint, also a central portion of one of the bridge fish-plates. Fig.5 is an end elevation of three of the ties, and a side elevation of thebridge fish-plates, parts cut away. Fig. 6 is a plan of the tie, withrails and insulation removed. Fig. 7 is a plan of one end of the tie,with the straps removed, parts cut away.

My tie is made of sheet metal, bent to form an upturned channel l. Neareach end a section of the sides of said channel is cut away, and metalstraps 2, are transversely placed therein, forming a partial cover forsaid channel l, and between said straps 2, the sides of said channel 1,are further cut away. The metal portion of the bottom of said channel lhas H-shaped cuts or slits 3 therein, and the inner or tongue parts ofsaid cuts are each bent downward at right angles to the bottom of thetie, thus forming depending lugs 3', the purpose being to embed saidlugs 3 in the road-bed, and prevent lateral displacement of the tie.Said straps 2 have vertical slots 4 cut therethrough, preferably at anangle cf about 45 degrees from the longitudinal of the tie. Within thecovered portions of the'tie are placed short blocks of wood or otherfibrous material 5, the upper side of which extends above the edges ofthe deeper cuts in the sides of said channel. Over the said blocks 5,and within said covered portions of the tie, are placed metal railplates G, having vertical slots 7 cut therethrough, preferably at anangle of about 45 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the tie, andvertically alined with the said slots 4 in the straps 2. rlhe purposesof said blocks of wood are; first, to provide a certain amount ofresiliency or cushion effect under the rails A, second, to hold the boltor spike that is to be driven through the slots 4 and 7 and into thesaid block of wood. At each end of each of said blocks 5 and within thecovered portion of the tie, and between t-he said rail plates 6 andthesaid straps 2 is driven one portion of a bracketshaped metal wedge 8,having the inserting edge thereof tapered to engage and slide on theupper side of the flange of the rail. The vertical portion of saidbracket-shaped wedge 8 covers the outer end of said wooden block, and ismade the same length as the distance between the upper side of thebottom of said channel l and the lower side of said straps 2. Cutthrough the horizontal portion of each of said bracket-shaped wedges 8,are slots 9, preferably at an angle of about 22 degrees from thelongitudinal, and so alined with the said slots 4 and 7, that when thesaid wedges are being driven into place, some part of said slot 9 willbe in vertical alinementwith said slots 4 and 7. lf desired, two of saidseries of slots 4, 7 and 9 may be placed on one side of the rail. When abolt or spike 10, having a flanged head 11, and with the squared portionl2 adjacent to said flange, is inserted through the said slots 4, 7 and9the wedge 8 cannot be removed until t-he said bolt is withdrawn. Toprevent the said bolts or spikes 10 from being jarred from slots 4, 7and 9 by the vibrations caused by passing trains, the lower end of thesaid bolt is driven a short distance into the said wooden block 5. Thesquared portion 12 of the said bolt 10 is of a length equal to thethickness of said straps 2, and each side of the square is the samewidth as the width of the said slots 4 andv 7. This prevents anytendency of the said bolt 10 to roll. To prevent water, either rain ormelted snow from entering through the said slots and injuring saidblocks 5, a washer 17 is carried on each of said bolts 5, shaped tocover the said slot 4.

Placed on the outside and at the juncture of two rails A, and boltedthereto by the bolts 15 is the bridge fish-plate 13. The upper side ofsaid bridge fish-plate is placed fiush with the tread of the rails. Thesaid bridge fish-plate is made of length suflicient to transverselycross or c'over three of my ties, when the ties are in place on the roadbed. At each tie, and held by the bolts 15, is placed a brace-block 14,having a shoulder 16 cut lnear each end, forming a depending lug, whichfits over the edge of the said channel 1. rlhe purpose being that whensaid bridge fish-plate and the brace-blocks are inzposition and firmlybolted to the rails, any longitudinal movement of the rails will beprevented. 1f it is desired to insulate the rails, a strip of insulatingmaterial 18, is placed under the rail, the bridge fish-plate and thebrace-block, and over the tie and other parts of the fastener. The saidbridge fish-plate, covering at it does three ties, prevents any verticalmovement of the ends of the rails, when the train passes over thatpartof the track, and the consequent breaking ofthe insulation. Thedifferent angles of the slots 4, 7 and 9 form a different opening orhole for said bolt or block at each position of the said wedge, as it isinserted or withdrawn thus enabling me to fasten the said wedge at anyposition, and to form a spring tension clamp for rails of variousweights, or thickness, or width of flanges, and to take up any shrinkagefrom wear or otherwise, of said wooden blocks 5. Also I provide a holefor the spike or bolt that is adjustable in position.

Having thus described my invention, I desire to secure by Letters Patentand claim:

1. A railway tie and fastener consisting of an upturned channel formedfrom a sheet of metal, having transverse channels cut in the upper edgesthereof, the central portion being deeper than the other portions,transl verse metal straps riveted to said upturned channel within theshallower of said transverse cuts and having vertical slots cut thereinat an angle of about 45 degrees from the longitudinal of said upturnedchannel, a wooden block closely fitted within said channel near each endthereof, metal rail plates also fitted within said channel and coveringsaid Wooden blocks and having vertical slots therein similar to andalined with the slots in said metalv straps, metal bracket-shaped wedgeshaving vertical slots therethrough at an angle of about 22 degrees fromthe longitudinal and adapted to fit within said channel and between saidrail-plates and said transverse straps, and spikes having a flangedheadand squared portion adjacent -to said head adapted to be driventhrough said slots. Y Y

an upt-urned channel formed from a sheet of metal and having transversechannels cut in.

the edges of said upturned channel, transverse metal straps riveted tosaid upturned channel and within two of said transverse channels, andhaving slots therethrough at an angle of practically 45 degrees from thelongitudinal of said upturned channel, a cushion block closely fittedWithin each end of said upturned channel, metal rail plates having slotstherethrough alined with the slots in said metal straps, metalwedgeshaving slots therethrough practically at an angle of 22 degreesfrom the longitudinal, and bolts adapted to be driven through said slotsand engage in said cushion blocks.

3. A railway tie and fastener consisting of an upturned channel formedfrom a sheet of metal and having transverse channels cut in the edges ofsaid upturned channel, transverse metal straps riveted to said upturnedVchannel and within two of said transverse channels, and having slotstherethrough at an angle of practically 45 degrees from the longitudinalof said upturned channel, a cushion block closely fitted within each endof said upturned channel, metal rail plates having slots therethroughalined with the slots in said metal straps, metal wedges having verticalslots therethrough practically at an angle of 22 degrees from thelongitudinal, the said slots adapted to form an opening adjustable inposition, and spikes adapted to be driven through said slots and engagesaid cushion blocks.

4. A railway tie and fastener consisting of an upturned channel formedfrom a sheet of metal having slits cut in the bottom of said channel,depending lugs formed by bending the inner parts of said'vslitsdownward, transverse metal straps-riveted to the upper edges of saidchannel, and having slots therethrough at an angle of practically 45degrees from the longitudinal of the said upturned channel, a cushionblock fitted within each end of said channel, metal rail plates havingslots therethrough alined with the slots in said metal straps, metalwedges having slots therethrough practically at an angle of 22 degreesfrom the longitudinal,

spikes adapted to be driven through said slots and into said cushionblocks, and insulating means between said rail plates and wedges, andthe'rail to be used on said tie.

istv

5. A railway tie and fastener consisting of an upturned channel formedfrom metal sheets, depending lugs formed by bending the inner parts ofslits cut in the bottom of said channel at right angles to said bottom,metal straps riveted to the upper edges of said channel and having slotscut therethrough at an angle of practically 45 degrees from thelongitudinal of the said chan# nel, a cushion block fitted Within eachend of said channel, metal wedges having slots cut therethroughpractically at an angle of 22 degrees from the longitudinal and adaptedto be driven between said cushion blocks and said metal straps, spikesadapted to be driven within said slots into said cushion blocks, andinsulating means between the tie and fastener and rails to be placedthereon. In testimony whereof I have afiXed my signature in presence oftwo witnesses.

. JOHN T. CLARK. Witnesses:

JOSEPH R. MUBDOCK, FRANCIS W. KIRKHAM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

